02/14/2011

Parallels between Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now

Both Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now follow the same story line but they are presented in different contexts. The most obvious parallel between Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness is the differences in the venues in which the stories take place as well as the era in which each piece are set. Apocalypse Now is set during the Vietnam War with the main character being Captain Willard, while in Hear of Darkness, the protagonist is Marlow, who heads into the Congo. Marlow and Willard both learn about the battle between good and evil, and the evil that the jungle can bring out in anyone. One great similarity is Marlow and Willard's ability to hold back from giving in to the darkness of the jungle by keeping their own integrity and sticking to plan. A notable difference between the two is that the ivory traders were in the Congo of their own free will whereas, the soldiers were drafted into Vietnam.